The Postal Service has released a video that reminds employees of the importance of the open season benefits enrollment period. The video — “2021 Open Season,” available on LiteBlue — notes that employees’ circumstances may change from year to year. For example, some employees may want to add a dependent to their plan, […]
The Postal Service is reminding managers and supervisors to only grant the minimum privileges in eAccess necessary for employees and contractors to do their work. The eAccess application provides entry to important USPS systems. Controlling user access to these systems is vital to protecting the organization’s computer network. Access to a system or resource should […]
It’s time to deck the halls with Holly. The cheerful elf for the USPS Operation Santa program is back and appears in a series of new seasonal “Hollygram” messages. The Postal Service introduced Hollygrams last year to help spread cheer throughout its workplace. The organization has again created templates that employees can use to send […]
Pledging a gift through the Combined Federal Campaign on Nov. 30, also known as Giving Tuesday, benefits two forces for good — and that’s on top of the benefit to your chosen charity. Giving Tuesday began in 2012 and is observed on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. What started as a local endeavor in New York […]
A USPS-inspired line of footwear and apparel from Vans will be available in stores and online this week. The products will generate revenue for the Postal Service and help customers show their appreciation for the organization. In announcing the licensing deal, Vans praised the dedication of postal employees, saying there’s “an inherent sense of hardiness […]
President Joe Biden has announced his intention to nominate two individuals to serve on the Postal Service Board of Governors: • Derek T. Kan, former deputy director of the White House Office of Management and Budget during the Trump administration; and • Daniel M. Tangherlini, former administrator of the General Services Administration during the Obama administration. […]
With the holiday peak season around the corner, the Postal Service has created a chart to help employees quickly sort out the requirements for First-Class Package Service-Retail and First-Class Package Service-Commercial parcels. The one-page chart details the similarities and differences between the products. For instance, the maximum size for a for First-Class Package Service-Retail parcel […]
If you’re enrolled in the Commuter Benefits Program and chose the prepaid card option, you can now use the deposited funds interchangeably. Previously, transit and parking funds could not be mingled. In addition, you can use any accrued balances interchangeably that were previously earmarked for one or the other. This feature is only available with […]
Postal Service employees who want to save money for future medical expenses have several options during this year’s open season, which runs from Nov. 8-Dec. 13. If you enroll in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), you may be eligible to contribute to a health savings account (HSA). An HSA allows you to pay for current […]
USPS is offering savings on Visa and Mastercard gift card purchases at select Post Offices in November and December. From Nov. 13-26, customers and employees will receive $2 off the purchase fee of Visa gift cards valued at $50 and $100. From Nov. 27-Dec. 10, customers and employees will receive $2 off the purchase fee […]
Kudos to Washington, DC, Acting Strategic Communications Specialist Felicia Lott for having the presence of mind to act quickly to save a life. […]
Eric Smith, a letter carrier from Spencer, WV, was recently driving to work when he came upon a house fire. While another passerby called 911, Smith and others braved thick smoke and intense heat to carry two residents to safety. He remained on the scene until firefighters arrived to battle the blaze. “Had it not […]
The Postal Service has launched USPS Zone, a program for Executive and Administrative Schedule employees who would enjoy promoting the organization’s products and services on social media. These types of ambassador programs help organizations work with their employees to build a social media presence. For example: Have you ever had a great meal at a […]
The Postal Service is offering a special webinar for employees who want to learn more about their options during this year’s open season benefits enrollment period. The session, “Open Season 101,” is being offered several times throughout open season, which runs from Nov. 8-Dec. 13. Each session takes place through the Zoom videoconferencing platform; participants […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. When does this year’s open season benefits enrollment period end? a) Dec. 6 b) Dec. 13 c) Dec. 15 d) Dec. 31 2. Fill in the blank: Postal Service employees can […]
“Semper Fidelis” was a great story about Marine veteran and Los Angeles Postal Police Officer Chal Kim. He’s a fine man and a great American. God bless him. […]
The latest Postal Pulse results show a positive trend. The annual survey allows USPS employees to share feedback about their work environments, measuring their engagement on various topics using a scale of 1 to 5. This year, the grand mean score — the average score on the survey’s first 12 questions — rose to 3.36, […]
The new USPS-licensed ride-on toy is riding high heading into the holiday season. The Toy Insider, an industry website, included the product on its annual list of the toys expected to be holiday hits. “It’s exciting news to make the list, considering the hundreds of toys for this age group that are out there,” said […]
The Postal Service wants to remind all workers that it is important to complete or update beneficiary information as soon as possible. This simple task takes just a minute or two and can save a lot of heartache down the line. The Life Changes LiteBlue page, a one-stop shop for updating employee information, makes it […]
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar on preparing for retirement. The session, “Retirement 101,” will be held Thursday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. EST. An Aetna representative will conduct the webinar, which will provide a better understanding of how retirement benefits might work. Participants must register before the event on the webinar […]
I’m very excited about the 2022 stamp lineup previewed last week in Link. The new stamps are very appealing. […]
The Postal Service has released a video of this year’s virtual Veterans Day ceremony. The video honors the organization’s military veterans and features remarks from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and others, including: • Angela H. Curtis, Delivery Operations vice president and an Air Force veteran; • Myriam B. Irizarry, a Human Resources program and policy […]
To honor employees who served in the military, the Postal Service will present them with special gifts of appreciation for Veterans Day. Former and current members of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard will be presented with a certificate of appreciation signed by Postmaster Louis DeJoy, a certificate holder, a card that […]
The Postal Service’s new holiday TV ad began airing Nov. 3. The commercial, titled “The Helpers,” shows actual employees working in plants, collecting packages and making deliveries, including in rain and snow. “It’s not magic that makes more holiday deliveries to homes in the U.S. than anyone else — it’s the hardworking people of the […]
Do you need help figuring out which health care, dental and vision plans are best for you during open season? If so, you can use Checkbook’s Guide to Health Plans on the Open Season LiteBlue page to compare available options. Once you’re ready to make a change, use PostalEASE to enroll in the Federal Employees […]
Allen Dix, a rural carrier in Rural Retreat, VA, is a former farmer, and he knew something wasn’t right when he was delivering mail recently and came upon a tractor that had apparently rolled into a fence on a customer’s property. Dix stopped to check it out, and he soon spotted the customer lying in […]
I love the new Love stamps previewed in Link this week. They’re ideal for Valentine’s Day and wedding invitations. They should be a huge success. […]
As the Postal Service prepares for the holiday peak season, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy recently met and heard from employees at facilities in Rockford, IL; Madison, WI; and Milwaukee. “I am energized by the conversations I have been having here in Rockford and across the country with our Postal Service employees who have been working […]
The Postal Service has updated the Commercial Package Intercept application to allow commercial mailers to submit up to five times more package intercepts. Commercial Package Intercept allows mailers to request a shipment be held for pickup at a Post Office, redirected to a different domestic address or returned to sender. Previously, commercial mailers could submit […]
Daylight saving time will end Sunday, Nov. 7, at 2 a.m. In areas where the change is observed, people will “fall back” and set their clocks back one hour at bedtime Nov. 6. Standard time will be in effect until March 13, 2022, when daylight saving time will resume. […]